Historic Plays & Players is thrilled to present Gibraltar: An Adaptation after James Joyce's Ulysses. Buried in the heart of a complex book lies the love story of Leopold and Molly Bloom. Adapted for the stage by Patrick Fitzgerald, Gibraltar tells their story, arguably for the first time.  

“When scholars explain to us why Ulysses is a great novel and James Joyce a great writer, they tend to drone on about the book’s intellectual underpinnings and its author’s historical importance. However, Gibraltar makes the convincing case that Ulysses is one of the most tender love stories ever written... a simple, heartrending story that resonates with the profound mysteries of love and desire, regret and affirmation. It’s also extremely bawdy..." review from Backstage.

Titled after the birthplace of Molly Bloom, Gibraltar will be performed by internationally renowned actress Cara Seymour and Mr. Fitzgerald. This tender tale comes to life at Plays & Players for a limited run on June 15, 16, and 18. 

Cara Seymour has been involved in a number of critically acclaimed theater productions, including the Time Out Award (London)-winning Now and at the Hour of our Death and the New York Obie-winning production of Mike Leigh's Ecstasy. Film work includes Dancer in The Dark, American Psycho, Adaptation, Gangs of New York, Hotel Rwanda, An Education, most recently The Music Never Stopped and the soon to be released Jack and Diane. She has collaborated with Mr. Fitzgerald for nearly three years on this project. 

Patrick Fitzgerald made his New York debut in the Irish Repertory Theatre’s first production and has appeared in numerous productions for the company since. Most recently he played the title role in Charlotte Moore's production of Dion Boucicault's The Shaughraun. He won the Clarence Derwent Award for Hal Prince’s Grandchild of Kings. Other theatre credits include Mike Leigh’s Ecstasy (Obie Award), The Sisters Rosensweig (Lincoln Center and Broadway), Mojo (Atlantic) and A Clockwork Orange (Steppenwolf).

Gibraltar was first staged at The Bowery Electric, NYC (2010). Terry Kinney was consultant director for the original staging. Terry is a co-founder of The Steppenwolf Theater Company, Chicago. Dublin based artists/designers Tara Kennedy and Mark Wickham were the production designers with Rose Upon the Rood LLC. Danny McDonald, Harrison Weisner and Patrick Fitzgerald were the producers.

Also, Black Sheep Pub (247 S. 17th Street, Philadelphia) is offering 20% off to anyone who comes in on Bloomsday with a program from Plays & Players or a Bloomsday Herald or t-shirt from the Rosenbach Museum & Library.

Special thanks to Consulting Director, Allen Radway, Simpatico Theatre Company; Artistic Consultant, Robery Berry; and: 

Showdates and Times:

June 15 at 7pm - $15

June 16 at 11am and 3pm - $15

June 18 at 5pm - $25

*If you buy 10 or more tickets, they are only $10 each!

In connection with the performances, there will be an exhibition of original artwork from the comic book/iPad adaption of Joyce's novel, ULYSSES "SEEN" at Plays & Players. The exhibition will include watercolor and ink drawings from the comic by artist Robert Berry as well as artwork for the GIBRALTAR poster and other Joycean events going on around the world. This will be the premier of all new artwork exclusively for sale over the Bloomsday week. Prices range from $100 to $400.

In Quig's Pub (3rd floor of Plays & Players), immediately following the June 15 performance of Gibraltar around 9pm, will be The Art of Ulysses:  Adapting Joyce's Novel into other Media (A Bloomsday Eve Artists' Talk) featuring Patrick Fitzgerald, Rob Berry and Mike Barsanti. 

Robert Berry, artist, is in the midst of reconceiving the novel as a comic in Ulysses "Seen," envisioning a delicate balance between word and image.  He will be joined by Mike Barsanti, Philadelphia's most eminent Joycean and author of the Readers' Guide for Ulysses "Seen."  Join us for a drink, good conversation, and a new way of seeing the book that began Bloomsday.

This is a free event, and you don't need to have attended the performance of Gibraltar to check out the artists' talk so be sure to stop by!